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FILM SCREENING GUIDE

Thank you for hosting a screening of Growing Resistance!

We are thrilled to help make sure your event is a success. This guide will help you through all the steps of setting up and organizing your event. If you have any further questions, please send a message to Emily (emily@350.org). We’re excited to be working with you!

After you’ve read the information below and decided on a date, time, and location for your event, please fill out the Event Registration Form so we include your event in the list of screening.

Getting Started: Setting Up Your Screening

You want to host a screening of Growing Resistance in your hometown. After you’ve read the information below and decided on a date, time, and location for your event, you’ll be ready to fill out the Event Registration Form.

Pick a venue:

The first step is to secure a space for your screening. How many people to do expect to attend? What is your budget? Pick a location that suits the size of your group, your budget, is convenient to get to, and ideally handicap accessible. This could be a local theater, a public space with a projector, or someone’s home.

Look online or call to find out the cost and ask about availability. Also, make sure to ask about the audio/visual equipment they have available and what you’ll need to supply yourself (e.g. microphones, projectors etc.)

TIP:

A web platform called Tugg.com lets you bring the movies you want to your local theater. Learn more here. http://resources.tugg.com/faq/. Here’s how it works:

Pick a date:

We suggest that you choose a date at least 4-5 weeks away so that you have enough time to get the word out. Venues tend to have more availability on weekdays (Monday through Thursday) but weekends can draw a larger turnout.

If you’re using Tugg, the thresholds for ticket sales (the number of tickets that must be sold in order for the screening to take place) tend to be lower on weekdays.

Ticketing:

Decide with your group whether the screening is free or whether you’d like to sell tickets. If the event is free, it’s still a good idea to have people sign up for a ticket to make sure there are enough seats for everyone. Eventbrite is a great tool to manage ticket sales for free and for-purchase events.

There are no royalty fees required to screen the film. However, we ask that any ticket sales be used to pay for the cost of the event (venue costs etc.) or that any profits be donated to help support ongoing work to stop fracking. The film’s co-producer, The Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment, can accept tax-deductible donations or a local non-profit organization in your community in another great option.

We recommend keeping the price relatively low so-as not to dissuade people from coming based on their ability to pay. Another option is to have a recommended donation amount so that folks can pay what they can.

Design a program:

Consider enhancing the screening with introductory remarks and a discussion/Q&A session once the film is finished. These special features will turn your screening into a unique event that can’t be missed and are likely to help garner a larger audience. If you want suggestions on local organizations to reach out to that could join a Q&A contact emily@350.org and we can help you find local support.

If you use Eventbrite or Tugg, you’ll receive a unique URL with your event page through which your family, friends, and community can reserve tickets to your event. This is the page that you’ll want to share far and wide! If your event is public, we will include it on the film website with ticketing info.

Below is a set of best practices for spreading the word to your friends, family and community.

Tap into your personal networks:

You’ll want to start by spreading the word to your family and friends. A heartfelt, personalized email can go a long way!

Recruit partners:

Once you’ve connected with your immediate networks, contact additional groups or organizations that may be interested. Think of this as a great way to bring together your various social circles to enjoy a great film.

Create Facebook Event & Post On Social Media:

As a host, it’s your job to share your event with your friends, family, and community using social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Post to your profile regularly, and create a Facebook event to help you invite folks to the screening.

You can use the images provided for the Event Photo and Cover Photo or choose your own.

Facebook event sample text:

Join us for the [INSERT CITY NAME HERE] Premier of “Growing Resistance”

[Insert date, i.e., Friday, May 30th]

[Insert time, i.e. 6pm]

[Insert name and address of theater]

BUY TICKETS HERE:

[Insert ticket link]

Tickets are $[Insert ticket price]

In California’s Central Valley, there is a crisis. Not only are communities running out of water, but over the last few years, they’ve seen an increase in dangerous forms of drilling for oil and gas. To make matters worse, the historic drought fueled by climate change is exacerbating existing health issues, water scarcity, and poor air and water quality. Luckily, the Central Valley’s history of resistance hasn’t faded. Communities are rising up against a hypocritical Governor who claims leadership on issues that are hurting communities in California today.

Join us for a screening of Growing Resistance: Drought, Oil & Climate Change in California, a 28-minute film that shares the stories of communities on the frontlines who are rising up against not only the immediate health impacts of the oil and gas industry, but against the growing climate impacts that are disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable in the state.

The film will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with:

[Insert panelists and their affiliations here]

Promote Your Facebook Event:

Invite friends! The more friends you invite to your Facebook Event, the more likely you are to meet your threshold. Reaching out to all of your Facebook friends will offer exposure and increase ticket sales.

Post the Facebook Event on your Timeline. Make sure that when you post on your Timeline that you let everyone you invited know how many days they have to pre-order their tickets. You can also encourage friends and family to share the event on their Facebook pages.

Make sure everyone who has joined your event is aware that they need to purchase a ticket on your Tugg Event Page in advance. Share this information by posting it on your Event’s wall and by sending personal messages to anyone who is listed as “Attending” or “Maybe Attending.”

As you get closer to the big day, post updates on your Event’s Wall and encourage your friends to spread the word. Add pictures, trailers, and clips from the film to get your audience excited and promote last minute ticket sales.

Local Press, blogs:

A one-time, crowd-funded screening of this film is a great story for a local paper or blog. People in your area would love to hear about this community-driven event. Feel free to reach out to your local newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and television networks.

Week Before, Day of the Event, Week After

Before:

Confirm screening details with special guests and panelists

Print and prepare marketing material as necessary

Prepare introductory and concluding remarks about the film

Prepare questions for the panelists and who will moderate Q&A

Message attendees to remind them about the event

Organize a few volunteers to assist with checking guests in

During:

Ask someone to take photos

ENJOY!

After:

Post photos on social media

Thank attendees for coming!

Plot Description, Film Info

Title:Growing Resistance: Drought, Oil & Climate Change in California

Length:Long version: 28 minutes; Short version: 8 minutes

About: In California’s Central Valley, there is a crisis. Not only are communities running out of water, but over the last few years, they’ve seen an increase in dangerous forms of drilling for oil and gas. To make matters worse, the historic drought fueled by climate change is exacerbating existing health issues, water scarcity, and poor air and water quality. Luckily, the Central Valley’s history of resistance hasn’t faded. Communities are rising up against a hypocritical Governor who claims leadership on issues that are hurting communities in California today.

Growing Resistance shares the stories of communities on the frontlines who are rising up against not only the immediate health impacts of the oil and gas industry, but against the growing climate impacts that are disproportionately impacting some of the most vulnerable in the state.

This film was produced by the Survival Media Agency in partnership with 350.org and the Center on Race Poverty & Environment.